Machine for polishing the eyes of needles



Get. 25, 1932. w, TIVENDALE ET AL 1,884,390

MACHINE FOR POLISHING THE EYES OF NEEDLES Filed Jan. 8, 1930 9 Sheets-Sheet l gmuewoa 0/ William 77V8/7Qd/9 James Bcarfer 1932- w. TIVENDALE ET AL 1,884,390

MACHINE FOR POLISHING THE EYES OF NEEDLES Filed Jan. 8. 1930 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 25, 1932.

W. T|VENDALE ET AL MACHINE FOR POLISHING THE EYES OF NEEDLES Filed Jan. 8, 1930 9 SheetsSheet 3 1932- w. I'IVENDALE ET AL 1,834,390

MACHINE FOR POLISHING THE EYES 0F NEEDLES Filed Jan. 8, 1930 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 1932- I w. TIVENDALE ET AL 1,884,390

MACHINE FOR POLISHING THE EYES OF NEEDLES Filed Jan. 8, 1930 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 Oct. 25, 1932. w. TIVENDALE ET AL MACHINE FOR POLISHING THE EYES OF NEEDLES Filed Janl 8 f w 2 wn m WM W 6 3 5 wme 6 .U a 3 H 4 a WM, 5% 5 a n F m a 6 J L .Oct. 25, 1932. w. TIVENDALE ET AL MACHINE FOR POLISHING THE EYES OF NEEDLES Filed Jan. 8. 1930 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 Oct. 25, 1932.

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W. TIVENDALE ET AL MACHINE FOR POLISHING THE EYES OF NEEDLES Filed Jan. 8. 1950 9 SheetsSheet 8 FIQIE.

Suva whoa il zl/l'am Fluencla/e James Baxzei" 06L 1932- w. TIVENDALE ET AL 1,834,390

MACHINE FOR POLISHING THE EYES OF NEEDLES Filed Jan 8, 1950 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 O I l [us 0 Patented Oct. 25, 1932 PATENT OFFICE;

WILLIAM TIVENDALE, OF GLYDEBANK, AND JAMES BAXTER, OE GLASGOW, SCOTLAND, A SSIGNORS TO THE SINGER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY MACHINE FOR POLISHING THE EYES OF NEEDLES Application filed January 8, 1930, Serial No. 419,301, and in Great Britain February 14, 1929. r

This invention relates to improvements in machines for polishing the eyes of needles and rounding the sharp edges at both ends W moved thereby to and fro inperforming the polishing operation and finally deposited at the opposite end of the frame for ultimate removal.

The threads are led from individual bobbins mounted on a bobbin board to individual tensioning levers at the second mentioned end I of the frame.

.for a lvin the abrasive to the threads ing provided, if desired, with bristles.

thereby eliminating the usual manual operation of appl ing the abrasive. A further object is to provide for periodical application of abrasive, say at each stroke of the needleclamp. Another object is to efiect saving of time and trouble in making ready the machine when or just before lengths of thread that have served for effecting a given number of polishing operations have become frayed.

According to the invention there is provided for the application of the abrasive a roller positioned transversely of and below the set of threads and adapted to be swung into contact with the threads, said roller be- Besides its swinging movements the said roller is given a ste'p-by-step rotary movement.

In its lower position the roller contacts with a second roller rotatable within a bath containing abrasive paste, so that the first roller picks up a certain quantity of abrasive from the second roller and transfers such;

abrasive to the threads.

As is understood, when the needles are bereciprocated along the threads, the bobbins are restrained against rotation. When,

however, fresh lengths of thread are to be drawn from the bobbins, the bobbins must'be free to rotate.

In practice each bobbin is impaled on a non-rotary spindle traversing an orifice in the bobbin board, the spindles being carried by a 7 plate located beneath the bobbin board and movable relatively thereto. On each such spindle is a cross-pin engageable with one or other of a number of diametral grooves formed in the lower bobbin head. In order to disengagethe bobbins simultaneously from the cross-pins, we provide manually operable means for lowering said plate and therewith the spindles until the cross-pins vacate the grooves in the bobbins so that the bobbins be come free to rotate though still impaled on the spindles. A reverse manual operation sheets lifting movement of said plate.

Heretofore it has been the practice to tie each individual thread to a cleat at the upper end of a tensioning lever. lVe now provide at the upper end of each tensioning lever a self-threading slot, so that the threads may be instantly threaded in the tensioning' levers when brought to position in relation thereto by manually operated combs through the inter-dental spaces of which the threads hinge ends with springs for tensioning the.

threads.

A polishing machine embodying the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Fi 1 is a side elevation, Fig. 2 a plan View and Fig. 3 an end elevation;

Figs. 4 and 6 are detail views of the bobbin board, Fig. 4 being a plan view, Fig. 5 a part side elevation, part section, and Fig. 6 an end elevation; Fig. 7 is a fragmentary detail view drawigto a larger scale showing part of the needle-clamp operating mechanism; Fi s. 8 and 8a are detail views of a bobbin; Fig. 9

,is a vertical transverse section of the needleclampdrawn to a larger scale; Figs. and 11 are detail views at right angles to each other of the thread-tensioning lever arrangement; Figs. 12 and 12a are detail views of a thread-tensioning lever; Fi gs. 13 and 13a are detail views of a tensioning-lever thread guide; Fi 14, and 16 are detail views of a pivot b ock for the thread-tensioning levers; Figs. 17 and 17a are detailed views at "right-angles to each other of the upper con- V is a" detail view of a needle-separator plate.

Referring to the drawings, the machine shown comprises spaced vertical end frames 1, 1' interconnected by upper horizontal side rails 2, 2 and by lower horizontal side rails 3 3'. I

J ournalled in lugs depending from the rails 3, 3' is a transverse shaft 4 on the ends of which are pivoted a pair of rock levers 5, 5 each operatively connected by means of a connecting rod 6 to a crank disc 7 carried by a transverse shaft 8 journalled, in brackets 9 attached to the end frame 1. The periphery of the crank disc 7 connected to the rock lever 5' is toothed to mesh with a pinion 10 secured to one end of a transverse shaft 11 also journalled in the brackets 9 and carrying fast and'loose pulle s 12, 13, respectively, engageable by a drlving belt 12 (Fig. 1) wh ch is trained round the motor-driven pulley 12'. 13' denotes a manually operable lever formed with a slot 13 slidably engaging a stationary pin 13 and pivotally connected at 13 to the upper end of a belt-shipper lever '13 of which the lower end is pivoted at 13 to the end frame 1.

14 denotes a worm secured to the shaft 8 and meshing with a worm-wheel 15 secured to one end of a longitudinal shaft 16 jour- "nalled in the end frames 1, 1 and carrying on its other end a crank-disc 17 fitted with a radially adjustable crank-pin 18 engaged by one end of a connecting rod 19 of which the other'end is pivoted at 20 to a lever 21 having a bifurcated lower end engaging a pin 22 carried by the end frame 1. The upper end of the lever 21 is pivotally connected at 23 to a transversely reciprocating bobbin board carriage 24 having flanges 25 engaged by rollers 26 (Fig. 1), journalled on pins 26 carried by plates 27 bolted to the end frame 1. The worm-wheel 15 carries a. radiall adjustable crank-pin 28 to which is pivote one end of a connecting rod 29 of which the other end is pivoted at 30 t0 the lower end of a lever 31 whose upper end is pivotally connected at 32 to a transversely reciprocatin threadtensioning lever carriage 33 having anges 34 engaged by rollers 35 journalled on pins 35 carried by plates 36 bolted to the end frame 1. Formed in the lever 31 intermediate the ends thereof is a slot 37 (Fig. 3) engaged by a fulcrum pin 38 mounted in the end frame 1. The pivots 23 and 32 of the levers 21 and 31, respectively, are adjustable in slots 23', 32 respectively, in the relative carriages 24,33. Bolted to the carriage 24 are two spaced brackets 39 to which is detachably secured a bobbin board 40 (Figs. 46) presenting rows of apertures 41 and having upturned longitudinal flanges 42, 43. Disposed beneath the bobbin board 40 is a plate 44 carrying rows of upstanding non-rotary spindles 45 projecting upwardly through the apertures 41 in the bobbin board 40 and each traversed near its lower end by a pin 46. 47 denotes a pair of pins carried by the plate 44 and guided through apertures in the bob bin board 40. Pivoted at 48 to the upper end of each pin 47 is a manually operable cam 49 engaging the bobbin-board 40 and adapted to be rocked through an angle of 180 whereby to raise or lower the plate 44 and therewith the spindles 45 with respect to the bobbin-board 40. The plate 44 is guided in its movements relatively to the bobbinboard by four pins 50 carried by the bobbinboard and engaging apertures in the plate 44. Interposed between the bobbin-board 40 and the plate 44, surroundin the pins 50, are compression springs as 51 gFig. 5). 52 denotes a horizontal row of thread guide apertures formed in the bobbin board flange 42. For attaching the bobbin board to the brackets 39 there are provided in the bobbin board, adjacent to the flange 42, a pair of keyhole slots 53 engageable with pins 54 threaded into the brackets 39. 55 denotes a pair of slotted plates secured to the bobbin board adjacent to the flange 43 and engageable by swing-bolts 56 pivoted at 57 to the brackets 39 and fitted with wing-nuts 58. Threadcarrying bobbins such as 59 (Figs. 8 and 8a) are impaled one on each spindle 45 with one of a pair of diametral grooves 60 formed in the lower bobbin head normally engaging the transverse pin 46 on the relative spindle 45 whereby to prevent rotation of the bobbin. By manipulation of the cams 49 the plate 44 and therewith the pins 45 and bobbins 59 thereon may be lowered until the transverse pins 46 are beneath the level of the apertures 41 in the bobbin-board in which position the pins 46 are clear of the grooves 60 in the lower heads of the bobbins which now rest on the bobbin-board and are free to rotate on the spindles 45. 61 denotes a row of spaced upstanding thread guide pins carried by the bobbin-board 40. 62 denotes three needle-separatorplate-supporting pegs carried by the bobbin-board.

Carried by the shaft 8 is a bevel pinion 63 meshing with a bevel pinion 64 secured to the upper end of an inclined shaft 65 journalled in brackets 66, 67 carried, respectively, by the end frame 1 and by the side rail 3. Secured to the lower end of the shaft 65 is a Worm 68 meshing with a worm-wheel 69 secured to the shaft 4. Carried by the shaft 65, intermediate the ends thereof, is a cam cylinder 70 engaged by a follower 71 (Fig. 3) carried by the arm 7 2 of a bell-crank lever pivoted at 73 in a bracket 74 integral with the side rail 3. The other arm 75 of the bellcrank lever is pivot-ally connected at 76 to the lower end of a link 77 of which the upper end is pivotally connected at 78 to the lever arm 79 on one end of a transverse shaft 80 journalled in brackets 81 integral with the rails 2, 2. Journalled in the lever arm 82 on the shaft 80 is one end of a transverse roller 83 of which the other end is journalled in a lever 84 on the other end of the shaft 80. The levers 82, 84 are angularly adjustable relatively to the shaft 80, the lever 82 being mounted on the boss 85 of a lever 86 keyed to the shaft 80 and presenting an arcuate slot 87 engaged by a bolt 88 carried by the lever 82. The lever 84 is mounted on the boss 85 of a lever 86 keyed to the shaft 80 and presenting an arcuate slot 87', engaged by-a bolt 88' carried by the lever 84. The roller 83 is engageable with a roller 89 journalled in an abrasive bath 90 carried by the machine. Secured to one end of the roller 89 is a pulley 91 operatively connected by a band 92 to a pulley 93 on one end of a spindle 94 journalled in the rail 2 and carrying on its other end a pulley 95 operatively connected by a band 96 to a pulley 97 secured to the shaft 4. Secured to one end of the roller 83 is a pulley 98 operatively connected by a belt 99 to a pulley 100 journalled on one end of the shaft 80 and unitary with a ratchet-wheel 101 engageable by a spring-urged pawl 102 1) pivoted at 103 to one of the brackets 81.

104 denotes a shaft carried by the rock levers 5, 5 and pivotally engaged at each side of the machine by one end of a link 105 of which the other end is pivoted at 106 to the upper end of a lever 107 pivoted between its ends at 108 in the relative rail 3, 3 and carrying on its lower end a weight 109. Carried by the upper ends of the rocklevers 5, 5 is a needle-clamp including brackets 110, 110 carried by pins 111, 111, journalled, respectively, in the upper ends of the rock-levers 5, 5. Attached to the brackets 110,110 is a plate 112 along the low er edge ofwhich are formed spaced slots 113 (Figs. 3 and 9) through which project cams 114 secured to a spindle 115 journalled in bearings 116 carried by the plate 112. Gooperating with the plate 112 is a relatively movable plate 117 provided with part-spherical apertures 118 (Fig. 9) engaged by the part-spherical heads of pins 119 carried by the plate 112. The plates 112, 117 constitute needle-clamping jaws, being provided along their upper adjacent edges with cooperating rubber facing-strips 112, 117, respectively. The inner face of the plate 117 is engaged by the cams 114 which are rotatable by manipulationof a handle 120 secured to i the end of the spindle 115 adjacent to the bracket 110. A wire spring 121 (Fig. 7) having one limb anchored at 122 to the plate 117 and having the other limb engaging the inner face of the plate 112 tends to separate the upper edges of the jaw-forming plates 112, 117 when the handle 120 is moved in the direction indicated by the arrow A. in Fig. 9. 123 denotes a handle unitary with the clamp bracket 110 and adapted to be manipulated by the operator in conjunction with the handle 120 to open or close the needle-clamp.

Secured to the outer end of the pin 111 is a gear-pinion 124 (Fig. 7) meshing with a toothed sector 125 journalled on a pin 126 carried by the rock-lever 5. Pivoted on the pin 126 is an arm 127 the free end of which is pivotally connected at 128 to the upper end of a lengthwise adjustable link 129 of which the lower end is pivoted to a crank-pin 130 radially adjustable in a disc 131 secured to the shaft 4. Carried by the pivot 128 is a lever 132 integral with a handle 133 and havmg an arcuate portion partially embracing the sector 125. 134 (Fig. 7) denotes a pin carried by the lever 132 and engageable with a socket 135 formed in the periphery of the sector 125, said pin 135 being maintained normally in engagement with the socket 135 by a helical tension spring 136 of which one end is anchored to a pin 137 carried by the lever 132 and of which the other end is anchored to the pin 126. The arrangement is such that, by manipulation of the handle 133, the sector 125 may be operatively connected to or disconnected from the arm 127 Integral with the carriage 33 are spaced upstanding brackets 138 (Figs. 10 and 11) in which are journalled shafts 139, 140 carrying plates 141, 142, respectively. Pivoted at 143 in slots 143 formed in blocks as 143 (Figs. 14-16) secured to the carriage 33 is a group of thread-tensioning levers 44 to the lower ends of which are attached at 145, one to each lever, helical tension springs 146 tending to maintain the lower ends of the levers in engagement with the plate 142. The ends of the springs 146 remote from the levers 144 are anchored to a bar 147 extending between brackets 148 carried by screws 149 penetrating apertured bosses 150 integral with the carriage 33, the screws 149 being provided with adjusting nuts 151 manipulation of which permits regulation of the stress of the springs 146. Secured to one end of the shaft 139 is a gear pinion 152 meshing with an idler gear pinion journallcd on a pin 154 carried by the relative bracket 138, the gear pinion 153 meshing in turn with a gear pinion 155 secured to one end of the shaft 140. Secured to the end of the shaft 139 remote from the gear pinion 152 is a collar 156 provided with a handle 157 (Fig. operable to impart angular movement to the plates 141, 142 to permit rocking move ment of the levers 144. Secured to the upper end of each lever 144 is a threat guide 158 presenting a thread-engaging notch 159 defined by walls 160, 161 (Figs. 13 and 13a) so formed that the wall 161 of one guide shrouds the wall 160 of the adjacent guide.

Secured to the brackets 138 is a comb 162 (see particularly Fig. 19) presenting along its upper edge spaced inclined thread-engaging slits 163 of which the roots are in alignment with the notches 159 of the threadguides 158, and have a pitch equal to the pitch of the thread guide apertures 52 in the bobbin board.

164 denotes clips attached to the carriage 33 and adapted to receive a pair of detachable combs as 165 (see particularly Fig. each presenting along one edge spaced thread-engaging slots 166 having divergent front ends 167. Each comb 165 is formed with slots 168 engageable by the fingers of the operator and is provided on its upper side with spaced thread hooks 169. 170 denotes a bar attached to the carriage 33 and carryi g spaced cleats 171 (Figs. 1, 11,18 and 18a). Formed in the front edge of the plate 141 (Figs. 17 and 17a) are slot-s 172 adapted to be entered, in the raised position of the plate 141, by the upper portions of the thread-ten sioning levers 144.

In practice, a bobbin boa rd detached from the machine is prepared for use and then. mounted in place. Threads 17 3 (Figs. 46) from the filled bobbins 59 impaled on the spindles are led from the bobbins past the relative guide pins 61 and threaded through the apertures in the bobbin board flange 42. series of needles 174 strung on each thread 173. the needles of th everal threads being arranged in trausvers... rows alternating with separator plates 175 4, 5, 6 and 22), strung on the pegs 62 and presenting along their upper edges spaced slits 175' (Fig. 22) merging into rounded root portions 175 engageable with the threads 173. T he pegs 62 are apertured transver Ely at 176, so that the rows of needles and senarator plates may be maintained in osition by means of split-pins 177 engagcable selectively with the apertures 176. The bobbin board is secured to the carriage 24 and the threads 173 are pulled, in two groups, longitudinally of the machine over the needleclamp, it being understood that the plate 44 is in lowered position that the bobbins are free to rotate on the spindles 45 to permit unwinding of the threads. The two groups of threads are temporarily tensioned by attaching each group to a cleat 178 carried on the upper end of a spring-urged lever 179 which lies normally along a tray 180 extending between the abrasive bath 90 and the thread-tensioning lever carriage 33, the lower end of each lever 179 being pivoted at 181 to a bracket 1.82 secured to the tray 180. Surrounding a boss 183 on the lower end of each lever 179 is a helical torsion spring 184 of which one end engages a projection 185 integral with the lever 179 and of which the other end is anchored to the bracket 182. The arrangement is such that the levers 179 are lifted for engagement by the threads in opposition to the action of the springs 184. 186 denotes a resilient abutment carried by each lever 179 and cngageable with the tray 160 when the levers are in normal position. The operative now removes one of the combs 165 from the carriage 33 and engages one group of threads 173 therewith and, detaching the group from the cleat 178 on the lever 1179, pulls the group, the several threads of which are now in parallelism, between the comb 162 and the bobbin hoard, towards and through the comb 162 on the carriage 33. The comb 165 is now maneuvered so that the threads 173 are deposited in the notches 159 of the thread-tensioning lever guides 158 and, finally, when the comb 165 is placed into the clips 164, the threads 173, which are still in engagement therewith, are anchored in bunches to the cleats 171 on the bar 170. The other group of threads 173, which are still attached to the cleat 178 on the other lever 179, are similarly handled. During the actual threading of the machine the threadtensioning levers 144 are in the position shown in full lines in Figs. 1, 10 and 11, the plates 141, 1.42 b ing substantially horizontal. After the threading operation the lever 1.57 is manipulated whereby the plates 141, 142 are lowered, allowing the springs 146 to drag the lower ends of the lovers 144 whereby to rock the levers 144 to tension the threads 173. To expose the first row of needles 174, the first needle separator plate 175 is withdrawn from the pegs 62 by removal of the pins 177 and deposited on a tray 187 extending between. the bath 90 and the carriage 24, the pins 177 being subsequently re-inserted into the pegs 62 to maintain the other separator plates in position. The exposed row of needles 174 is now swept along the threads 173 by means of a hand comb 188 (Fig. 21) towards the needle clamp the jawfaces 112, 117 of which are closed upon the shanks ofthe needles by manipulation of the levers 120, 123. The machine is now ready for operation.

As is understood, in operation, the needle clamp is oscillated longitudinally'of the machine by the rock levers 5, through the extent of the are E (Fig. 1) whereby the needles 174 in the needle-clamp are reciprocated along 7 their respective threads 173. The lever 132 is manipulated to effect engagement of the pin 134 carried thereby with the socket 135 in the sector 125 whereby there is imparted to the needle-clamp a secondary oscillation on a horizontal axis on the pins 111, 111, through the intermediary of the train 8, 63, 64, 65, 68, 69, 4, 131, 129, 128 and 127, this secondary oscillating movement oft-he needleclamp ensuring that the eyes of the needles are rounded at both ends. Limited transverse reciprocating movement imparted to the carriages 24, 33 and therewith the threads 173 through the intermediary of the train including the shaft 16 and the levers 21, 31 ensures thorough polishing of the lateral walls of the eyes of the needles. The roller 89 rotates slowly in the abrasive bath 90 and carries on its periphery a supply of abrasive paste part. of which is transferred to the threads 173 in each stroke of the needleclamp. In the oscillation of the needles 82, 84 there is imparted to the abrasive transfer member or roller 83 stepwise rotary movement through the action of the rachet wheel 101 which is partially rotated relatively to thelevers 82, 84; under the action of the pawl 102 in the descent of said levers.

On the completion of the polishing operation the machine is stopped and the secondary oscillating mechanism of the needle'cla-mp disengaged by depression of the handle 133 of the lever 132. The needle-clamp being opened to release the finished needles held therein, said needles are swept along the threads 173 and deposited adjacent to the comb 162 on the carriage 33 by means of the hand comb 188. The remaining rows of needles on the bobbin-board are similarly treated in succession, each row, after being polished, being deposited at the thread-tensioning lever end of the machine.

During operation, when the threads 17 3 become worn or frayed, fresh lengths of thread are drawn from the bobbins 59 into the field of operation of the needle-clamp. To effect this, the cams 49 are manipulated to free the bobbins 59 and the ends of the groups of threads are disengaged from the cleats 171 and tensioned to draw fresh lengths of threads into the field of operation of the needle-clamp, the bobbin locking mechanism being restored to position before the recommencement of operation of the machine.

If, during operation, a thread breaks, a fresh length of thread is drawn from the reladisc 199 (Fig. 3) presenting projections 200 engageable with a pin 201 carried on the arm 202 of a two-armed lever fulcrumed Lt 203. The other arm 204 of said lever carries a pin 205 which is normally in latching engagement withthe belt-shipper lever 13 whereby to maintain said lever in drlvlng position in opposition to the action Of't'llGlICdl tension spring 206. Rotatable and coaxial with thedisc 199 is a ratchet wheel 208 engageable by a spring-urged detent 209 and by a springurged pawl 210 carried on the arm 211 of a three-armed lever 211, 212, 215, pivoted coaxially with the disc 199 and ratchet wheel 208. he arm 212 of the three-armed lever normally engages, under the influence of a spring 212, an adjustable abutment-forming set-screw 213. Pivoted at 21a to the third arm 215 of the three-armed lever is a finger 216 normally engaging an abutment 217 in-' tegral with the arm 215, said finger being infiuenced by a spring 218. Carried by the shaft 16 and engageable with the finger 216 is a two-armed striker 219 adapted in its rotation to impart stepwise unidirectional rot-ation to the ratchet wheel 208 and therewith the trip disc 199. The arrangement is such that after a predetermined number of strokes of the needle-clamp one of the projections 200 on the disc 199 trips the lever 202, 204 and unlatches the belt-shipper lever 18 which is thereupon moved to inoperative position under the action of the spring 206.

The disc 199 and ratchet wheel 208 are adapted to be readily interchanged with other discs and ratchet wheels contrived to give any predetermined number of strokes of the needle-clamp.

While the present improvements have been herein described as applied to a needle-eye polishing machine in which the needles themselves are reciprocated in a direction lengthwise of the polishing threads, it is to be'und'erstood that the invention in certain of its aspects is equally adaptable for use in a needle-eye polishing machine in which the threads themselves are reciprocated through the needle-eyes.

lVe claim 1. In a machine for the purpose specified, in combination, a frame, a set of threads extending in substantial parallelism between spaced points of said frame and each strung with a series of needles, means for reciproeating a row of needles along said threads, and means for carrying abrasive to said threads during the operation of the machine at a point traversed by said needles.

2. In a machine for the purpose specified, a frame, a set of threads extending in substantial parallelism between spaced points of said frame and each strung with a series of needles, means for reciprocating a row of into contact with said threads during the operation of the machine, means for eifecting rotation of said roller, and means for applying'abrasive to said roller.

4. In a machine for the purpose specified,

in combination, a set'of bobbins, threads extending in substantial parallelism from said bobbins and each strung with a series of needles, tensioiiing levers individual to said threads, each lever presenting a self-threading slot into which a thread may be instantly threaded, and means for reciprocating the needles along said threads.

5. In a machine for the purpose specified,

in combination, a set of bobbins, threads extending in substantial parallelism from said bobbins and each strung with a series of needles, a set of tensioning levers having selfthreading slots engageable by said threads, combs manually operable to position said threads in relation to said levers, means for supporting said combs while in engagement with said threads beyond said levers remote from said bobbins, cleats beyond said combs, and means for reciprocating the needles along said threads.

6. In a machine for the purpose specified, in combination, a set ofbobbins car ing threads led in substantial parallelism rom said bobbins and each strung with a series of needles, means for securing said threads at points spaced from said bobbins, a needle clamp, means for reciprocating said needle clamp and thereby also a row of needles along said'threads, and periodically effective means for applfving abrasive at each stroke of said needle'c amp to the portion of said threads traversed by the needles.

7. In a machine for the purpose specified, in combination, a set of bobbins carrying threads led in substantial parallelism from' said bobbins and each strung with a series of needles, means for securing said threads at points spaced from said bobbins, a needle clamp engageable with a row of needles, means for imparting reciprocatory movements to said needle clamp lengthwise of said threads and oscillatory movements transverse to said threads, and means for carrying abrasive to the threads at'a point traversed by said needles during the operation of the machine.

8. In a machine for the urpose specified,

in combination, a set of obbins carrfying threads led in substantial parallelism rom said bobbins and each strung with a series of needles, thread tensioning levers spaced from said bobbins and each engaged by a thread, a needle clamp, means for reciprocating said clamp and thereby also a row of needles along the threads, means for applying abrasive to the threads at a point traversed by said needles, a tray beneath said threads, and levers pivoted to said tray, said pivoted levers having cleats at their free ends.

9. In a machine for the purpose specified, in combination, a' frame, a bobbin-board carriage at one end of said frame adapted to be reciproca-tcd transversely of said frame, bobbins moving with said' carriage, said bobbins carrying threads extending in substantial parallelism longitudinally of said frame and each strung with a series of needles, a tension lever carriage at the other end of said frame adapted to be reciprocated transversely of said frame, tension levers carried by said second carriage and each engaged by a thread, a needle clamp between said carriages, means for reciprocating said needle clamp and thereby also a row of needles along said threads, and means for applying abrasive to said threads at each' stroke of said needle clamp.

10. In a machine for the purpose specified, in combination, a bobbin-board, a set of bobbins on said bobbin-board, said bobbins carrying threads extending from said bobbins in substantial parallelism to points spaced from said bobbins, each thread being strung with a series of needles, means for reciprocating a row of needles lengthwise of said threads, means for res-training said bobbins against rotation during reciprocating movement of said needles, and a bobbinreleasing device for effecting simultaneous release of said bobbins for rotary movement to permit fresh lengths of thread to be drawn from said bobbins.

11. In a machine for the purpose specified, in combination, a bobbin-board having orifices, a vertically movable plate beneath said bobbin-board, upright spindles carried by said plate and penetrating said orifices, thread-carrying bobbins impaled on said spindles, the threads extending from said bobbins in substantial parallelism to points spaced from said bobbins, each thread bei g strung with a series of needles, means for reciprocating a row of needles lengthwise of said threads, means on said spindles rcstraining said bobbins against rotation during the reciprocating movement of said needles, and means for moving said plate to release said bobbins for rotary movement to permit fresh lengths of thread to be drawn from said bobbins.

12. In a machine for polishing the eyes of needles, in combination, a frame, a needlestrung thread extending between spaced points of said frame, means for relatively moving the thread and a needle threaded thereupon to produce'a reeving action of the thread upon the needle-eye, and means for carrying abrasive during the operation of the machine to the thread at the immediate portion thereof reeving through the needleeye.

13. In a machine for polishing the eyes of needles, in combination, a frame, a needle strung thread extending between spaced points of said frame, means for relatively moving the thread and a needle threaded thereupon to produce a reeving action of the thread upon the needle-eye, and periodically effective means for applying abrasive to said thread during the operation of the machine.

14. In a machine for polishing the eyes of needles, in combination, a frame, a needlestrung thread extending between spaced points of said frame, means for relatively moving the thread and a needle threaded thereupon to produce a reeving action of the thread upon the needle-eye, an abrasive supply below said thread, and transfer mechanism for carrying abrasive from said supply to the thread at the immediate portion thereof reeving through the needle-eye during the operation of the machine.

15. In a machine for polishing the eyes of needles, in combination, a frame, a needlestrung thread extending between spaced points of said frame, means for relatively moving the thread and a needle threaded thereupon to produce a reeving action of the thread upon the needle-eye, a member for carrying abrasive to the thread at the immediate portion thereof reeving through the needle-eye during the operation of the ma chine, and means for supplying abrasive to said member.

16. In a machine for polishing the eyes of needles, in combination, a frame, a needlestrung thread extending between spaced oints of said frame means for relativel moving the thread and a needle threaded thereupon to produce a reeving action of the thread upon the needle-eye, a swinging arm, means for actuating said arm, a member carried by said arm to periodically apply abrasive to the reevin portion of said thread, and means for supplying abrasive to said member.

18. In a machine for polishing the eyes of needles, in combination, a frame, a needlestrung thread extending between spaced points of said frame, means for relatively moving the thread and needle threaded thereupon to produce reeving action of the thread upon the needle-eye, a swinging arm, means for actuating said arm, a member carried by said arm to periodically apply abrasive to the reeving portion of said thread, means for supplying abrasive to said member, and means for rotating said member upon said arm.

19. In a machine for polishing the eyes of needles, in combination, a frame, a needlestrung thread extending between spaced points of said frame, means for relatively moving the thread and a needle threaded thereupon to produce a reeving action of the thread upon the needle-eye, a transfer-memher for carrying abrasive to the thread at the immediate portion thereof reeving through the needle-eye, means for actuating said transfer-member, an abrasive bath, a rotatahis element within said abrasive bath disposed in the path of movement of said transfermember, and means for rotating said ele ment.

20. In a machine for polishing the eyes of needles, in combination, a frame, a needlestrung thread extending between spaced points of said frame, means for relatively moving the thread and a needle threaded thereupon to produce a reeving action of the thread upon the needle-eye, a transfer-memher for carrying abrasive to the thread at the immediate portion thereof reeving through the needle-eye, means for vibrating said transfer-member toward and from the thread, means for rotating said transfermember, an abrasive bath, a rotatable element within said abrasive bath disposed in the path of movement of said transfer-member, and means for rotating said element.

21. In a machine for polishing the eyes of needles, in combination, a frame, a set of threads suspended between spaced points of f 'ame and each strung with a needle, a clamp for said needles, a vibratory rock-arm having its axis of swinging movement transverse to the length of said threads, a pivotal support for the needle-clamp upon said rockarm, means for vibrating said rock-arm, and means for swinging said needle-clamp about its pivotal support upon the vibrating rockarm.

22. in a machine for polishing the eyes of needles, in combination, a frame, a set of threads suspended between spaced points of said frame and each strun with a needle, a clamp for said needles, a vi ratory rock-arm having its axis of swinging movement transverse to the length of said threads, a pivotal support for the needle-clamp upon said rockarm, means for vibrating said rock-arm, and means including a crank-member having its axis of movement coincident with said rockarm axis for swinging said needle-clamp about its pivotal support upon the rock-arm. In testimony whereof We have signed our names to this specification.

WILLIAM TIVENDALE.

JAMES BAXTER. 

